PCM704 - Community Mental Health Promotion

Subject Title
Community Mental Health Promotion

Subject Description

Recreation therapists are strategically positioned to influence and shape mental health promotion in the community. This course is designed for the recreation therapist who is interested in understanding the social considerations that impact mental health and those with mental illness. This course therefore explores mental health promotion through primary, secondary, and tertiary frames of reference. Within these reference points, the course will investigate such issues as risk factors for mental illness in the community, assessing community needs, reducing risk, and management strategies for those with mental illness. Assertive outreach and therapeutic recreation intervention strategies across the lifespan will be included.

Credit Status
This is a professional option course in the Bachelors of Therapeutic Recreation and it addresses two professional concentrations: community wellness and mental health.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the historical milestones in the evolution of community mental health care, with consideration to the recovery/recovering model of community mental health practice.
2. Predict how mental illness can influence, and can be influenced by, social exclusion.
3. Analyze how factors such as economic status, age, ethnicity, ability, indigenous status, and gender impact access to care by those with mental illness in the community.
4. Identify various services in the area that provide services to community-dwelling people with mental illness, and define their approach to client care.
5. Predict the needs of community-dwelling people with mental illness based upon a therapeutic recreation perspective
6. Propose community-based interventions consistent with recreation therapy practice that might support the recovering process of those with mental illness.
7. Evaluate how individuals from various cultures might address the process of mental health care and approach to treatment in accordance with their own cultural practices.
8. Recognize, assess, and discuss the characteristics that define cultural competence in the community mental health worker and evaluate the barriers to cultural competence.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.